Display stand for boats



A ug. 4, 1959 w.H. HlsEF 2,898,057

DISPLAY STAND FOR BOATS Filed oct. 2,1957 2 sheets-slm*b 1 Aug. 4, 1959 w. H. HlsER DISPLAY STAND PQR BoATs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1957 FIG. 5

I NVENTOR BYWILLIAM H. HISER HIS AGENT 2,898,067 Patented Aug. ll, 1959 hre DISPLAY STAND FOR BOATS William H. Hiser, Decatur, Ill.

Application October 2, 1957, Serial No. 687,715

3 Claims. (Cl. 248-176) This invention relatesV to a mobile boat display stand, and more particularly to a boat display stand on which a boat may be conveniently moved from one location to another and on which the boat may be conveniently disposed in various Xed attitudes for advantageous display or inspection.

Suicient space in which to suitably display and store v the numerous models of small shing and pleasure boats currently manufactured has become a problem for many of the retail dealers throughout the United States. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a novel mobile boat display stand for wheeling a boat to and from storage `and display locations, which includes means for conveniently positioning the boat in any of several different fixed attitudes thereon which is the most advantageous for display purposes, inspection, repairs, or which requires the least amount of space in storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a boat display stand of the above character on which a boat may be conveniently and securely mounted for angular positioning about its longitudinal axis, and which includes means for conveniently locking the boat in a selected angular position.

A further object is to provide a boat display stand of the above character which is conveniently adjustable to accommodate boats of various lengths, `and which is provided with a novel, universally adaptable, transom clamping device for securing the stern of a boat thereto.

These and further objects and advantages will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan View of a boat display stand constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. Z is a side elevational view of the stand shown in Fig, l with a boat mounted thereon;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are rear end elevational views of the display stand showing a boat mounted thereon in three different angular positions;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the rear section of the display stand showing the stern of a boat attached thereto;

Fig. 7'is an enlarged front elevational view of the pivoted stern supporting frame shown apart, and is taken on line 7-7 of Fig.V 2;

Fig. 8 isa side elevational view of the pivoted frame shown in Fig. 7; g

Fig. 9 is a partsectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of the display stand showingv the bow end of a boat attached thereto; and n Fig.. 11 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line lll-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to` thev drawings, the display stand consists of forward land rear detachably connected sections generally indicated" at 10 and 12, see Fig. 2. Each of the sections consists of a standard, which may take the form of an A-frame having upstanding, angle members 14 and 16 and a horizontal, angle base member 22. Each of the sections 1t) and 12 further includes one or more elongated connecting members extending longitudinally of the frame from the base of the standard and is arranged for adjustable overlapping connection with the similar connecting member extending from the other section. These connecting members may take the form of a pair of angle members 18 and 20, connected at one end to the base member 22 of each section and having a series of holes 21 at their other ends to receive attaching bolts 34, whereby the length of the display stand between standards may be adjustably fixed to accommodate boats of various lengths. Corner braces 24-26 and 28-30 are provided to lend rigidity to the frame.

The members forming the front and rear sections l0 and 12, including the brace members, may be permanently joined by welding, or some of the connections may be made by welding and others by bolting.

There is obviously a particular advantage to be gained in packaging and shipping the display stand if all of the members are connected by bolting, and applicant contemplates the use of this method. The front and rear sections are each further provided with a pair of casters 36 which are mounted near the ends of the base member22.

The A-frame standard of the rear section 12 is provided with a short horizontal bar 3Sy near its upper end which supports a trunnion 46. Pivotally mounted on trunnion 46 is a rectangular frame generally indicated at 42, see Figs. 7 and 8, which consists of longitudinal angle members 44 and 46, a pair of transverse, ilat members 4a? and 5d, and an intermediate transverse bar 52 which is apertured to receive the trunnion 40, see Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The pivoted frame 42 is further provided with a longitudinally projecting, horizontal foot memlber, generally indicated at 54, on which to support the stern of a boat. The foot member 54 may be formed of a pair of horizontal angle members 55 rigidly attached to the lower end of pivoted frame 42, and includes a member S6, preferably of relatively soft material such as Wood, resting on the horizontal legs of angles 5S thereby to provide a non-marring surface on which to rest the bottom of the boat.

Pivotally attached at its upper end at 58 to the upper end of each of the angle members 44 and 46 of the pivoted frame 42 is an angle member generally indicated at 69, and each of these angle members 60 in turn carries pivotally attached to its lower free end at 62 one end of a C-type clamping device 64, see Figs. 6 and 9. The pivoted members 66 are preferably angle members with their legs 66 lying at against the sides of the adjacent frame 42, and having their other legs 68 projecting outwardly at from the frame 42 so as to lie parallel with the transom of a fboat, as indicated in Fig.9. The angle members 60 are rigidly connected at their lower free ends lby a tie bar 69, and the upper portion of the legs 68 of each of the angle members 60 is ont olf to provide clearance for the adjacent pivotally mounted C-clamp 64.

The legs 66 of pivoted angle members 60 are provided with elongated slots 70 which receive the pivots 62 and permit the C-clamps to slide longitudinally thereon so as to facilitate swinging the C-clamps over the transom. From the foregoing, it will be seen that by suitably locating pivot 58 the angle members 60` will adapt themselves so that their legs 68 will lie Hat against the transom of a :boat for a considerable range of boat transom angles; for example, they will adapt themselves for this purpose to all transom angles from an extreme angle, as shown in Fig. 9, to the vertical. The stern of the boat will, of course, be moved rearward toward the adjacent A-frame as the transom angle decreases from that shown in Fig. 9. The angle members 60 could, of course, be dispensed with and the C-clarrnps could be slidably and pivotally mounted on members 44 and 46 of pivoted frame 42. However, the use of angle members 60, which are tied together by the bar 69, provides `a mluch more rigid arrangement, particularly when the C-clamp pivots are slidably mounted. A further particular advantage of using the pivoted angle members 60 is that, if so desired, standard IC-clamps may be used which need not be permanently connected in any way to the angles 60 or the frame 42.

A very simple and inexpensive means of conveniently fixing the pivoted stern supporting frame 42 in three angular positions is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. This means consists in providing a single bar 72 carrying a threaded stud or bolt at each end thereof and in providing holes at points 74 and 76 in A-frame members 14 and 16, respectively, and at points 78 and 80 in members 44 and 46, respectively, of the pivoted frame 42 to receive the bolts. While numerous other arrangements for angularly positioning the pivoted frame 42 will readily come to mind, such as a quadrant with an arcuately arranged series of holes, the simplied, illustrated arrangement provides for positioning the frame so that a boat may be disposed in a normal position, a position perpendicular thereto, and at 45o to either of these positions in either direction of rotation.

The A-frame standard of the forward section of the display stand is similarly provided with a short horizontal bar 82 near its upper end which supports a trunnion 84 on which is pivotally mounted a clevis 86. The clevis 86 carries a cross-bolt 88 which passes through a towing eye 9) mounted on the prow of the boat. The towing eye 92, which ordinarily is mounted onthe boat by the manufacture, is usually suitable, but in such A cases where it is not, an eye 90 may be provided and suitably attached to the boat.

In operation, when it is desired to place a boat on the display stand, the pivoted frame 42 is xed in a vertical position on the A-frame standard by means of the bar 72, and rear section 12 of the stand is rolled into position at the stern of the boat, the stern of the boat being lifted so that the longitudinal connecting legs 18 and 20 may pass funder it and rest on the ground. The rear end of the boat is then lifted further and placed on the foot 54. The forward section of the stand is then placed in position at the bow of the boat, the bow end being lifted to permit the longitudinal connecting legs of the forward section 10` to pass under the boat. The lbow of the boat is then lifted to a horizontal position and the clevis bolt passed through the towing eye 90. The longitudinal connecting legs 18 and 20 may then be easily lifted from the ground and connected in overlapping relationship by the bolts 34.

The transom of the boat is now securely clamped to the pivoted frame 42 by clamping the members 60 to the transom with the `C-clamps 64. As will be seen from Fig. 9, the pivoted ends of the C-clamps may be moved upward on the pivoted members 60 so as to permit clearing the top of the transom when swinging them into or out of clamping position without turning the clamp screws all the way out. Also, Ibecause of this provision, the C-clamps may be made more compact with a smaller gap.

The boat may now be easily wheeled from one location to the other, and it may now be rotated and fixed in any one of the three positions shown in Figs. 3 to 5, or at 90 to the position shown in Fig. 4 or at 180 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Obviously a wide boat will require less space in storage or when passing through relatively narrow doorways when positioned as shown in Fig. 5. Angular disposition as shown in Fig. 4 will often show olf a boat to best advantage in a sales room,

. 4 and when repairing or modifying the boat, one or more of the various xed positions will greatly simplify the work being done on it.

The foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, the scope of my invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boat display stand comprising a pair of horizontally spaced standards each including a base member, horizontal connecting members extending longitudinally of the frame from said base members for connecting said standards in spaced relationship, a pair of opposed trunnions, one on each standard near its upper end, means for pivotally mounting the bow end of a boat on one of said trunnions, a stern supporting member pivotally mounted on the other of said trunnions, said stern supporting member having a vertical portion adjacent the standard on which it is pivotally supported and a horizontal foot portion extending from the vertical portion toward the other standard for supporting the stern cud of a boat, clamping means carried by said pivoted stern supporting member for clamping the transom of a boat to the vertical portion thereof, and means for connecting said pivoted stern supporting member to said adjacent standard in any of a plurality of spaced angular positions.

2. A boat display stand comprising a pair of horizontally spaced, vertically arranged A-frames each including a horizontal base member, said A-frames being connected at their bases by elongated horizontal members, a pair of opposed trunnions, one on each A-frame near its apex, means including a clevis for pivotally mounting the bow of a boat on one of said trunnions adjacent one of said A-frames, a vertically arranged stern supporting member pivotally mounted on the other of said trunnions adjacent the other of said A frames, said pivoted stern supporting member including a horizontal projection extending toward said rst-mentioned A-frame for supporting the stern of a boat, clamping means pivotally supported on said pivoted stern supporting member for clamping the transom of a boat thereto, and means for detachably connecting said pivoted stern supporting member to the adjacent A-frame in any of a plurality of spaced angular positions.

3. A boat display stand consisting of two detachable sections, each section comprising a standard having an elongated, horizontal base member supported on a pair of casters, one near each end of said base member, and a horizontal connecting member extending perpendicular from said base member, means lfor detachably connecting said horizontal connecting members in various overlapping relationships thereby to vary the length of the stand between said standards, a trunnion on each of said standards near its upper end, means including a clevis for pivotally supporting the bow end of a boat on one of said trunnions adjacent one of said standards, a vertical stern supporting member pivotally supported on the other of said trunnions adjacent the other of said standards, said pivoted stern supporting member including a horizontal projection extending therefrom toward said first-mentioned standard for supporting the stern end of a boat, and clamping means pivotally mounted on said pivoted stern supporting member for clamping the stern end of a boat thereto.

4. In a boat display stand comprising a pair of spaced standards each having a horizontal base member and an elongated connecting member connected at one end to its base member and extending perpendicularly therefrom, means for connecting the other ends of said connecting members in various degrees of overlapping relationship, a pair of opposed trunnions, one on each standard near its upper end, means for pivotally supporting the bow end of a boat on one of said trunnions, a Vertical stern supporting member pivotally supported on the other of said trunnions, said pivoted stern supporting member including a horizontal foot portion for supporting the stern end of a boat, an angularly adjustable member pivotally mounted on said pivoted stern supporting member, -said angularly adjustable member having a portion spaced from its pivot for engaging one surface of the transom of a boat, and clamping means for clamping said transom engaging portion of said angularly adjustable member to the transom of a boat.

5. A boat display stand for angularly positioning a boat about its longitudinal axis comprising a pair of spaced standards each having a base member and a horizontal connecting member extending from said base member, means for detachably connecting the extending ends of said connecting members, a pair of opposed trunnions, one on each standard near its upper end, means for pivotally supporting the bow end of a boat on one of said trunnions, a vertical stern supporting member pivotally supported on the other of said trunnions, said pivoted stern supporting member including a horizontal projection for supporting the stern end of a boat, an angularly adjustable member pivotally mounted on said stern supporting member, said angularly adjustable member having a ilat surface for engaging one surface of the transom of a boat, and means for clamping the transom of a boat against said flat surface.

6. A wheeled stand on which to display and store a boat comprising a pair of vertical A-frames, each including a horizontal base member, a pair of casters for each of said A-rames, one at each end of its base member, a pair of horizontal connecting members connected at one end to each of said base members and extending perpendicularly therefrom, means for connecting the extending ends of said connecting members in various degrees of overlapping relationship, whereby the length of the stand between A-frames may be varied, a pair of opposed horizontal pivots, one on each A-frame, means including a clevis for pivotally mounting the bow end of a boat on one of said pivots, a at, vertically arranged frame pivotally mounted on the other of said pivots, said pivoted frame including a horizontal foot portion for supporting the stern end of a boat, clamping means arranged to clamp the transom of a boat to said pivoted frame, and means on said pivoted frame cooperating with means on said adjacent A-frame for holding said pivoted frame in a plurality of spaced angular positions about its pivot.

7. A wheeled stand on which to display a boat in different angular positions about its longitudinal axis comprising a pair of spaced standards, each including a horizontal base member mounted on a pair of casters and each having a horizontally extending connecting member attached at one end to its base, which horizontal members are arranged to be detachably connected near their free ends in various degrees of overlapping relationship thereby to vary the length of the frame between standards, a horizontal pivot on each of said standards near its upper end, means including a clevis for pivotally supporting the bow end of a boat on one end of said pivots, a vertically arranged stern supporting member pivotally mounted on the other of said pivots, said vertical stern supporting member including a horizontal foot portion for supporting the stern end of a boat, a pair of transom engaging elements pivotally mounted-on said stern supporting member, each of said elements having a flat surface spaced from its pivotal mounting for engaging the transom of a boat, which flat surfaces are angularly adjustable in a vertical plane about the pivotal mounting of the element thereby to accommodate boat transoms of various angles, clamping means for clamping the transom of a boat against the at surfaces of said pivotally mounted transom engaging elements, and means for detachably connecting said pivoted stern supporting member to the adjacent standard in various spaced angular positions about its pivot.

8. A boat display stand comprising a pair of spaced standards each including an elongated horizontal base member, elongated, horizontal connecting members attached at one end .to said horizontal base members and extending perpendicularly therefrom for connecting said standards in spaced relationship, means for adjustably connecting the free ends of said connecting members in overlapping relationship, a pair of casters mounted under each of said base members, one caster at each end thereof, a pair of opposed trunnions, one on each of said standards near its upper end, means including a clevis for pivotally mounting the bow end of a boat on one of said trunnions adjacent one of said standards, a stern supporting member pivotally mounted on the other of said trunnions adjacent the other of said standards, said stern supporting member including a horizontal foot projecting therefrom toward said rst-mentioned standard for supporting the stern end of a boat, clamping means pivotally mounted on said pivoted stern supporting member for clamping the transom of a boat thereto, and means for detachably connecting said pivoted stern supporting member to said adjacent standard in any of a plurality of spaced angular positions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,889 Hyde Nov. 19, 1912 1,051,452 Rock Ian. 28, 1913 1,932,634 Moog Oct. 31, 1933 2,446,518 Arnold Aug. 10, 1948 2,564,702 Linneman Aug. 21, 1951 2,691,203 Wilder Oct. 12, 1954 

